Review of Citizen Kane (1941) by Joe C — 10 Jul 2015

How did this happen? It may come as a jolt that Welles' hallowed classic, so embalmed as the 'Greatest Film Ever Made', has only barely gained an average rating. Has time finally caught up with it? While Welles' technical achievement with his incredibly influential use of lighting and camerawork is never in doubt, Citizen Kane remains a film that appeals more to the academic and critic than the film fan, partly because of its reputation.

The reality is Orson Welles' showboating is obvious; both in his lead performance and his script which aren't as convincing as they should be. It's obvious most of the effort was put on the ominous, shadowy cinematography and the innovative use of perspective-altering camera angles.

Citizen Kane is talked of with hushed voices and nodding heads by wise arbiters of film, but for the non-acolyte it feels like an enigma - a whopping cathedral of a movie, awe-inspiring, but too vast and ornate to love.